Folding-crate.



w. 355mm, FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JULYZB. 1914.

Patented Mar. .21, 1916.

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WITNESSES:

By W W IWW A TTORNEXS W. BEEHLER.

FOLDING CRATE.

. APPLICATION FILED 1ULY23. 1914.

1,176,023. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

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WILLIAM BEEI-ILER, OF OWOSSO, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed July 23, 1914. Serial No. 852,569.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM BEEHLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to folding or knock down crates which when not in use may be compactly folded for return shipment.

It is the primary object of the invention to obtain a construction which can be easily set up for use, which cannot be accidentally unlocked or disengaged, which is braced to maintain its rectangularity, which can be easily folded or knocked down, which will not injure the contents and which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View the invention comprises the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate body partly set up but in unlocked position; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof; Fig. 8 is a vertical section showing the bottom and top sections in position; and Figs. i and 5 show modified constructions for locking.

In the manufacture of shipping crates the cost of construction is a very important factor and often a difference of a few cents per crate will determine the practicability of the construction as a manufacturing product. With my improved construction the cost is reduced to the minimum, first, by the simplicity of the operations required in the manufacture, and second, in the fact that poorer stock may be employed in the construction without impairing the strength and quality of the frame.

In detail. A and A are duplicate side sections and B and B are duplicate end sections of the crate, all of which are formed of longitudinally-extending bars and cross slats preferably of veneer attached thereto. The sections A A are formed by the longitudinally-extending bars C C at their upper and lower edges, and the sections B B are formed with pairs of longitudinally-extending bars D D at both upper and lower ends. These pairs of bars are so positioned as to embrace the projecting ends of the bars C C and to form in connection therewith and a pin E a hinge permitting the folding of the crate. The cross slats F for the sections B and B extend between the upper bars D and the lower bars D and are limited in length so as to pass between the bars Cand C of the sections A and A. The cross slats F of the sections A and A are of greater length, extending to the outer edges of the bars C and C and the end slats are so positioned that their outer edges will abut against the slats of the sections B and B when the crate is in rectangular form.

The four sections forming the sides and ends of the crate are joined to each other by the pins E which pass through bores in the projecting ends of the bars C and C and D and D, and preferably extend only the length of the pairs of bars D D. This economizes in the use of wire from which the pins are made over constructions in which the wire extends from the upper to the lower end of the crate. The adjacent ends of the sections A and B are detachably connected to each other, preferably by providing an open slot in the longitudinal bar U which is engageable with the pin E.

As shown in Fig. 1, the slot G is formed in the outer side of the bar C and is engaged with the pin E by first moving the section A inward beyond its normal position, and folding the section B over the same until the pin and slot are in registration. An outward movement of the section A will then engage the pin and slot and the internal pressure of the material packed in the crate will hold the parts in engagement. Also the lock will be maintained by the top and bottom sections II and H which are formed of longitudinal slats I and cross slats J. These sections are engaged by inserting one of the cross slats in the space between the bars D and D of one of the end sections, while the intermediate cross slats rest upon the bar C. By then springing the section the opposite ends may be moved to engage the longitudinal slats beneath the opposite bar D, which permits of longitudinal adjustment until the first-mentioned cross bar passes beyond the bar D and springs up to form a shouldered engagement therewith. The construction of top sections just described is one that has heretofore been used, but in my improved construction the edges of the outer longitudinally extending slats will bear against the inner faces of The construction asdescribed can be formed by merely sawing the strips forming the longitudinal bars and the cross slats and by nailing the latter in place. No mortis-- ing of the bars is required nor is there any other machine operation with the exception of the boring of the bars for the pivot pins, so that the cost of manufacture is reduced. Also comparatively poor stock may be used in the construction without detriment. Another advantage is that the slats being on the inside of the longitudinal bars the pressure of the material stored in the crate will not tend to loosen these slats, and as the bars are on the inside there are no angles or inward projections to injure the contents.

In place of the locking means shown in Fig. 1,,I may employ either of the constructions shown in Figs. 4c and 5. In the former the entering slot G is in the end of the longitudinal bar C, and a metallic locking hook M is pivotally attached to the bar and may be turned to close the end of the. slot to prevent disengagement. In Fig. 5 the con- 1 tending bars and cross slats upon the inner faces thereof, the end slat of oneof the sections having its outer edge abutting against the inner face of the adjacent section, and a lock for the meeting ends of two adjoining sections comprising a laterally extending slot in one of the longitudinal bars and-a pivot pin secured to the bars of the other section engageable with said. slot through a relative swinging motion of the two sections.

2. A crate having side sections consisting of longitudinally extending top andbottom bars and cross slats secured'to the inner faces thereof, end sections consisting of pairs of longitudinally extendingbars at'the upper and lower ends thereof spaced to embrace the longitudinal bars of said side sections and cross slats between the inner bars ofsaid end sections, pivot pins connecting the ends of the engaged longitudinal bars of adjacent sections, and a lock for the meeting edges of the two adjoining sections comprising a slot in the longitudinally extending bar and a pin bridging the space between the pairs of bars of the adjacent sections.

'8. A crate having side sections formed of longitudinally extending bars and cross slats secured to the inner faces thereof, end sections formed of pairs of longitudinally extending bars spaced to embrace the projecting ends of the longitudinal bars of said side sections and cross slats connecting the inner the other with pairs oflongitudinally exf tending bars spaced to embrace the bars of the first section, cross slats secured to the in ner faces ofrthe bars of both sections, and a bottom having longitudinal slats the ends .of which are engageable with the spaces be tween said pairs of bars.

5. A crate having side and end sections hinged or pivotally'connected to each other, one'of said sections having longitudinally extending top and bottom bars, and a lock for the meeting ends of said sectionand an adjoining section, comprising slots in the longitudinal bars and pivot pins secured to the adjoining sectionengageable with said slot through a swinging motion of the two sections. 1 1

6. A crate having side and end sections hinged or pivotally connected to each other, one of said sections having longitudinally extending top and bottom bars, and a lock I for the meeting ends of said sectionand an adjoining section,.comprising a laterally extending-slot in one of the longitudinal bars anda pivot pin secured to the adjoining section, engageable with said slot through a relative swinging motion of the two sections.

H In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

' CLAUDFI C. DAY, R. lVfWALsH.

Copies of. this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

' Washington, D. G.

WILLIAM. BEEH ER; 

